Agriculture, Policy & Development at the University of Reading

Sadie Walters, a BSc International Development student, is currently on a placement year as a Supply Chain Project Engineer, with Unilever, based in their factory in Burton on Trent.

She said: “I am thoroughly enjoying my placement, as there are opportunities to improve efficiencies and reduce waste in supply chains. Each day looks different, ranging from meeting with suppliers, collaborating with stakeholders, creating new process of working or being on the factory floor gathering data. The placement has hugely improved my communication and problem-solving skills meaning I can contribute value to the site. My degree has made me aware of global challenges within supply chains, and even small changes in a large company can make a big impact.”

Students, Staff and Alumni from the Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE) came together for the 2026 GIIDAE Connect event, which included an evening of career talks, networking opportunities, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion titled “Agriculture Then, Now, Next: What We Got Wrong and What Must Change.”

Monique Ewerton, MSc Agriculture and Development Student said: "This year's GIIDAE Connect was a hit. It was inspiring to see the diverse career paths that alumni have taken and listen to them offer strong and practical advice. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences.”

PhD students based in the Department of Agrifood Economics and Marketing recently organised and participated in a PhD conference and was attended by academic staff and other students. The conference provided students with an opportunity to showcase their research through presentations and interdisciplinary discussion.

Tian Marifat, PhD Student and main Conference Organiser, said “The conference brought together postgraduate researchers from across the globe, spanning four continents, to share their work and engage with peers and academics. From food systems and consumer behaviour to environmental governance and sustainability, the diversity of topics presented reflects the breadth and ambition of research within our school, and the real value of having a dedicated space for doctoral students to develop their voice.”

Welcome to Dr Luca Rossini, who has joined the Department of Crop Sciences as a Lecturer in Crop Protection.

He said: “My research and teaching focus is on advancing sustainable plant protection strategies, with an emphasis on modelling and optimal control applied to agroecosystem dynamics.

I aim to promote cost-effective and environmentally friendly crop management, integrating insect science, plant pathology, applied mathematics, metrology, optimal control, and socio-economic perspectives, alongside crop production.

I bring my experience and perspective from the Università della Tuscia, where I completed my PhD, and at Université libre de Bruxelles, where I held a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship. I look forward to expanding my research, linking modelling with practical applications to deliver effective solutions to everyday farming challenges.”

Congratulations to Yousef Mahdi, Executive Support Administrator in the School, who was recently nominated and shortlisted for Staff Volunteer of the Year, recognising his outstanding commitment as a Volunteer Event Ambassador for Royal Berks Charity, supporting the Royal Berkshire Hospital, NHS.

Yousef recently attended the annual Celebration of Volunteering event at Reading Students’ Union, to commemorate the impact of students, staff and alumni creating positive change locally and globally.

Martin Butler, Community and Events Manager at Royal Berks Charity, said: "Yousef regularly helps the charity at community events in and around the Reading area, always with a smile on his face and going the extra mile to communicate with everyone on the support they can give to the Charity.”

James Kelly, BSc Consumer Behaviour and Marketing student, is currently out on placement year as a Digital Marketing Intern with Keysight Technologies, in Reading, Berkshire.

He said: "Working within the Web Analytics Team, my role involves using tools such as Adobe Analytics and Domo to track web traffic and marketing leads. I turn this data into monthly reports for the executive team to inform their decision-making. I’ve measured over 15 million unique web visits and 40,000 clicks. I have also built over 300 Domo visualization cards and 10 dashboards that are widely used across the business. This placement has helped to shape my future. Gaining hands-on experience with industry-standard software has given a strong head start in career after graduation."

The University of Reading’s Bioblitz Team recently hosted a 24-hour Bioblitz event during the Centenary Community Festival.

Led by Lecturer Alice Haughan, postdoctoral researcher Louise Hutchinson, and PhD Student Katie Somerville-Hall, all from the Department of Sustainable Land Management, and Dr Matt Greenwell from the School of Biological Sciences, the event invited visitors to join walks around Whiteknights campus to identify and record the diversity of plant, fungi and animal species they came across.

Dr Louise Hutchinson said: "During the 24-hour BioBlitz, we recorded 323 species of animals, plants and fungi on campus. Highlights included our Nature-meter, to track our species count throughout the day, which was decorated by children visiting the Bioblitz stall, with drawings of their favourite species".

The ‘Raising the Pulse’ project, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and co-led by colleagues in the School, was recently showcased at the University of Reading’s Centenary Community Festival.

Professor Donal O’Sullivan, Lead for Work Package 1 (Sustainable Production of Quality Beans), Dr Paola Tosi, Lead for Work Package 2 (Development of Palatable, Nutritious Pulse-based Ingredients and Products) and Dr Elena Millan, Lead for Work Package 4 (Consumer attitudes and behaviour towards pulses and co-creation with stakeholders), were in attendance and highlighted the event’s success.

Elena and Paola said: “People visiting our stall joined us to celebrate healthy, sustainable pulse-based foods. It was a fantastic opportunity to engage the wider community through conversation about healthy and sustainable eating.”

Students and staff from the School’s Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE), and the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, recently hosted the ‘Your Food Quest Begins Here’ stall at the University of Reading’s Centenary Community Festival.

Maha Khan, MSc Food Security and Development student, said: “As an ambassador participating in the Interdisciplinary Food Systems Teaching and Learning (IFSTAL) Programme, we wanted to run a stall focused on the importance of systems thinking in addressing major food system challenges. Through a range of activities, we sparked conversations about food origins and the hidden connections within food systems. It was great to see so many people engaging, questioning, and reflecting on just how interconnected and complex these systems are.”